DES MOINES, Iowa – Using a late push, the Illinois State men's golf team pulled away for the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Championship crown, winning the team's second title over the last three seasons.
With a final-round 285, the Redbirds tied for the lowest round of the day, and the team's 856 out-distanced Murray State's 859. Belmont (866), Drake (873), Valparaiso (875), Northern Iowa (880), Southern Illinois (883), Bradley (889), Evansville (896), and Missouri State (907) rounded out the 10 schools in the tournament field.
Following the round, the MVC handed out its postseason awards, and TJ Barger and Alex McCulla were both named All-MVC, and head coach Ray Kralis was named the MVC Coach of the Year for the third straight season and the fifth time in his career.
Leading the way for ISU was TJ Barger, whose three-round 209 is the second lowest MVC Tournament score in program history. The only score to better Barger's tournament was the 204 carded by Felix van Dijk as ISU won the 2023 Championship. For his efforts he placed third individually.
Freshman Max Faucquez tied for 10th with a three-round 216 (even par), while Pietro Pontiggia (217, +1) placed 12th, Alex McCulla (218, +2) 13th, and using a final-round score of 70, Will Troy, placed in a tie of 25th with a 223 (+7).
In the final round, Barger led the way with a 68, while Troy carded a 70, Faucquez a 73, while Pontiggia and McCulla each finished with a 74.
The men's and women's MVC Championships are the first time since 2019 that both the men's and women's teams from the same school have won the title, and the first time since 2005 that the Redbirds have accomplished the MVC sweep.
The Redbird men will discover their regional destination on Wednesday, April 30.
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